The Douglas A-26 Invader (designated B-26 between 1948–1965) was a United States twin-engine light bomber and attack aircraft built by Douglas Aircraft during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts. A limited number of highly modified aircraft (designation A-26 restored) served in combat until 1969. It was found to be a fast aircraft capable of carrying twice its specified bomb load. A range of guns could be fitted to produce a formidable ground-attack aircraft.
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| - The Douglas A-26 Invader (designated B-26 between 1948–1965) was a United States twin-engine light bomber and attack aircraft built by Douglas Aircraft during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts. A limited number of highly modified aircraft (designation A-26 restored) served in combat until 1969. It was found to be a fast aircraft capable of carrying twice its specified bomb load. A range of guns could be fitted to produce a formidable ground-attack aircraft.
- The A-26 was designed by Ed Heinemann as a replacement for the A-20 Havoc in response to a USAAF requirement for a twin engine high-performance bomber set in 1940. Three prototypes were ordered in 1941 and designated XA-26. The first of these made its initial flight on July 10, 1942, and the design entered service in 1943.
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| - ** Up to 8 0.50 in M2 Browning machine guns in the nose
** 8 0.50 in M2 machine guns paired in four optional underwing pods
** 2 0.50 in M2 machine guns in remote-controlled dorsal turret
** 2 0.50 in M2 machine guns in remote-controlled ventral turret
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| - capacity - in the bomb bay plus carried externally on underwing hardpoints
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| - Articles and topics related to the A-26 Invader
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| - Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 "Double Wasp"
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| - McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920
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| - The A-26 was designed by Ed Heinemann as a replacement for the A-20 Havoc in response to a USAAF requirement for a twin engine high-performance bomber set in 1940. Three prototypes were ordered in 1941 and designated XA-26. The first of these made its initial flight on July 10, 1942, and the design entered service in 1943. The Invader's first sortie occurred on June 23, 1944 with the Fifth Air Force over New Guinea. It was one of the fastest Allied attack aircraft in service at the time, and flew combat missions over Okinawa, Taiwan, and the Japanese home islands. The A-26 was also used in Europe by the Ninth and Twelfth Air Forces as well as Great Britain, flying over 11,000 missions. They were used for reconnaissance and interdiction, and were even credited with a probable Me 262 kill. It served through the end of the war, and continued to see use the 1970s by various countries.
- The Douglas A-26 Invader (designated B-26 between 1948–1965) was a United States twin-engine light bomber and attack aircraft built by Douglas Aircraft during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts. A limited number of highly modified aircraft (designation A-26 restored) served in combat until 1969. It was found to be a fast aircraft capable of carrying twice its specified bomb load. A range of guns could be fitted to produce a formidable ground-attack aircraft. The redesignation of the type from A-26 to B-26 has led to popular confusion with the Martin B-26 Marauder, a design that first flew in November 1940, some 16 months before the Douglas design's maiden flight. Although both types utilized the much-used Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp eighteen-cylinder, double-row engine, they are completely different designs. The last A-26 in active US service was assigned to the Air National Guard; that aircraft was retired from military service in 1972 by the US Air Force and the National Guard Bureau and donated to the National Air and Space Museum.
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